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11 Ideas for Hot-Weather Dates

We’ve been having quite the heat wave in New York City this week! It’s hard to motivate to look good in weather like this. I mean, wear tight-fitting clothing, heavy makeup, and blowdry my hair? No, thank you. So if you’re going on a date, keep it low-maintenance and cool. Stay away from BBQs, ballgames where you’ll sit and melt through 9 innings, or any cardiotastic activity where you might pass out from heat exhaustion. Whatever you do, though, do not apologize for the mustache of perspiration on your face or complain about how your long hair feels like a fur coat on your neck. No one likes a complainer. Here are some ideas for going out (when all you want to do is stay home and stand in front of the fridge):

1. Try a new water sport. Go kayaking or take a surfing or paddle boarding lesson. A warning, though: I once took a boy for some free kayaking on the Hudson River, and the kayak man told us that many couples do not come back as couples (e.g. if one of you sits back while the other does all the paddling. Sounds familiar, tee hee.).

2. Wander around a majorly air-conditioned place. Head to a museum, mall, movie theater, bowling alley, department store, or superstore. (Yes, department store. On HowAboutWe.com, a site where singles suggest date ideas to find people based on interests, they have a whole category for “errand dating.”)

3. Hit up a water park. Try to go on a weekday when it’s less crowded.

4. Turn your backyard into a water park. Buy a slip ‘n’ slide and hold a contest for speed, style, and splash factor. You can also buy water balloons, water guns, or a plastic kiddie pool.

6. Pick an activity near a body of water. The coastal breeze will feel so good! You could hit golf balls at Chelsea Piers in NYC. Or, in my hometown, we have a mini-golf course and racetrack (for horses) near the ocean.

7. Buy popsicles and sit on the swings at the park. Or you could do a sort of pub crawl from Cold Stone to Tasti D-Lite to Baskin Robbins. Just be careful you don’t O.D. And another warning—the other day, I bought a tiny cone from an ice cream truck on 34th Street, and it was $4. Inflation!

8. Enjoy cold beers or mojitos at an outdoor bar. Find a place where you can sit under an awning with misters.

9. Beach picnic! Or lakeside picnic! Or backyard picnic. Or park picnic—but you’ll need shade if there’s no nearby source of water to cool you down.

10. Dare to get haircuts together at a walk-in salon. The shampoo and wash will cool you off, and you can walk out feeling lighter—and with wet hair.

11. Plan a midnight picnic, a drive-in movie, or another outdoor, late-night activity when the temperature cools down. Just remember mosquito repellent!

And when all else fails, you can always stay inside your respective air-conditioned apartments and embark on a Skype Date!

Final note: if you’re having a heat wave, avoid going out between 11 and 2 when the sun is at its highest. Hydrate well and avoid heatstroke! And remember: wear loose clothing, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Oh, and don’t forget the deodorant.